Written Answers Tuesday 25 March 2008

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what kind of representation disabled people have in the governance of (a) the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and (b) Passenger View Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Regulations 2002 state that the convener and at least half of the total number of the committee, including the convener, be disabled persons according to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

  (b) We propose to prescribe that at least three of the 15 members of the Passenger View Scotland (PVS) be disabled persons according to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Access for People with Disabilities

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way disabled peoples’ voices will be given greater prominence in the governance structures of Passenger View Scotland, in light of that body assuming the functions of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: We propose to prescribe that at least three members of Passengers’ View Scotland (PVS) will be disabled persons as determined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. We will shortly be inviting members of Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) and their stakeholders to apply for the three new posts within the PVS. These appointments will be carried out in line with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s code of practice.

  The addition of three members to PVS to represent disabled passengers will mainstream the issue and increase the profile of disability issues across a winder range of transport modes.

Alcohol Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was spent on alcohol support services in Aberdeen during (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06 and (e) 2006-07.

Shona Robison: NHS Grampian was provided with the amounts shown in the table for onward distribution to the Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (ADATs) for alcohol treatment services. No specific funds were made available for alcohol treatment services prior to 2004-05. Information on amounts spent in Aberdeen is not held centrally as this is a local decision.

  

2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


£212,000
£699,000
£699,000



  Further information may be available in the Aberdeen City ADAT Corporate Action Plans which can be accessed from http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap/dat.htm.

Alcohol Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be spent on alcohol support services in Aberdeen during the current spending review period.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will provide £2,014,386 in 2008-09 to NHS Grampian for alcohol treatment services and brief interventions. The detailed allocation of this is for the board and its partners to agree locally. Figures for future years are not available.

Angling

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to introduce rod licences.

Richard Lochhead: There are currently no plans to introduce rod licences.

Autism

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake research to establish levels of mitochondrial dysfunction in the autism population in Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have taken forward a jointly funded research programme in relation to autism, based on the agenda outlined in the MRC review of autism research. The MRC has now committed over £3 million to new research. The awards range from clinical investigations in children and adults, to environmental risk factors, brain imaging and intervention studies. The Chief Scientist Office has also funded a number of studies into autism.

  No research is currently planned on the explicit issue of levels of mitochondrial dysfunction in the autism population in Scotland. However, the Chief Scientist Office is open to proposals for further studies.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what definitions have been agreed with COSLA, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding what constitutes (a) local, (b) regional and (c) national economic regeneration projects.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local regeneration projects will transfer from being the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to that of local authorities, broken down by local authority.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which regional regeneration projects will become the responsibility of the Scottish Enterprise regional networks after 1 April 2008.

Jim Mather: These matters are under discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which regeneration projects have been assessed as being of national importance and will remain the responsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise after 1 April 2008.

Jim Mather: The transfer of responsibility for local regeneration projects to local authorities is under discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Once this process is concluded, appropriate details will be made public.

Ferry Services

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital funding from the Scottish budget will be invested in the construction of the Borders rail project.

Stewart Stevenson: Exact details of how much capital funding from the Scottish budget will be invested in the construction of the Borders rail project will be the subject of negotiations with the successful tenderer but is expected to be between the range of £235 million and £295 million as answered in my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce ferry fares on CalMac’s Clyde routes from Ardrossan to Brodick and Largs to Cumbrae for (a) foot passenger, (b) vehicle and driver and (c) freight transport.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when road equivalent tariff will be introduced on CalMac’s Clyde routes from Ardrossan to Brodick and Largs to Cumbrae.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the fares charged by CalMac for travel between Brodick to Ardrossan and between Cumbrae to Largs are fair.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it discriminatory that ferry fares on the Largs to Cumbrae route and Ardrossan to Brodick routes remain at current levels when the Scottish Government proposes to reduce fares and increase the public subsidy paid to CalMac to operate certain routes to the Western Isles via a pilot road equivalent tariff scheme.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a 40% reduction in ferry fares for residents of the Isles of Arran and Cumbrae on the Clyde and what the reasons are for its position.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government understand the genuine concerns from our remote and fragile communities about the affordability of ferry travel and the impact that has on island economies. That is why we are investigating road equivalent tariff as the basis for ferry fares in Scotland.

  That investigation includes a pilot study focussing on the Western Isles. By the very nature of a pilot study it is not possible to include all routes, however the pilot will inform the possible future roll out of the scheme across the rest of the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the subsidisation of other CalMac routes by revenues from the fares charged on the CalMac ferry routes from Ardrossan to Brodick and Largs to Cumbrae.

Stewart Stevenson: The Clyde and Hebrides ferry services (CHFS) are almost wholly funded by a mix of fares revenue and Scottish Government grant support through the Public Service Contract. The reduction in fares revenue on the road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot routes will be covered by additional grant support from the Scottish Government. Consequently, the introduction of RET will have no impact on the fares, and available discounts on fares, on the other routes.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what equivalent fares are charged by CalMac per mile, or part thereof, on each of its routes, for (a) foot passenger, (b) vehicle and driver and (c) freight transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultants are finalising the first phase of the study into road equivalent tariff (RET). The report will include details of current fares and potential RET fares for all ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government.

  I will ensure that you are sent a final copy of the report when it is available.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission about the road equivalent tariff pilot scheme.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the European Commission considers that the road equivalent tariff pilot scheme conforms to all the regulations contained in the European state aid and maritime cabotage legislation.

Stewart Stevenson: To date the Scottish Government has had no discussions with the European Commission about the road equivalent tariff (RET) study. However, we will provide the European Commission with information on the pilot study once details have been finalised.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the additional subsidy payments specifically associated with road equivalent tariff discounts are payable to other ferry operators if they operate in competition with CalMac’s routes.

Stewart Stevenson: The road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot study focuses on routes subsidised by the Scottish Government. In developing proposals for the possible roll out of RET across the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks consideration will be given to ferry services provided by operators other than CalMac Ferries Limited.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot scheme will consider whether RET will have a positive or negative effect on current and potential competition on ferry routes.

Stewart Stevenson: The examination and assessment of the impact of introduction of the road equivalent tariff approach is the principal reason why we are carrying out a pilot. While the desk-based study has been very informative only a live pilot can determine what the impact of a road equivalent tariff scheme will be, not just on the pilot routes but elsewhere in the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks. That assessment will be comprehensive and consider usage and revenue impacts as well as economic and social impacts.

  The pilot scheme will be closely monitored to capture all the information required to inform future decisions on fare levels across the entire Scottish ferry network.

Health

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of women have had smear tests in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is given on the Information Services Division Website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Cervical_cancer_screening_annual_statistics.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline.

Justice

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations will receive funding from the £200,000 to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how organisations should bid for funding from the £200,000 to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the bidding process for funding from the £200,000 to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008, will close.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which professionals will receive special training and toolkits as a result of the £200,000 funding to tackle gang culture, announced on 14 February 2008.

Fergus Ewing: The closing date for applications for a share of the £200,000 was 7 March 2008. Thirty bids from a range of statutory and voluntary organisations have been received and are currently being evaluated. All of the successful bids will deliver a range of educational, diversionary and behaviour change activities aimed at tackling gang and group violence and disorder within local communities. To support this work, 72 individuals from the police and local authorities across Scotland have been given specialist conflict resolution training and a supporting good practice toolkit to utilise during the initiative.

Local Government Funding

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8170 by Jim Mather on 17 January 2008, whether the exact nature of the responsibilities to be transferred from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to local authorities as a consequence of its review of the structures and functions of the enterprise networks has now been determined and, if so, what those responsibilities are.

Jim Mather: The details of the transfer of these functions are still under discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. I expect this process to be concluded very shortly and intend that the details should be announced thereafter.

Local Government Funding

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available to each local authority in each of the next three financial years to support the responsibilities transferred from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to support Business Gateway.

Jim Mather: Details of the transfer of responsibility for delivery of the Business Gateway, including the associated funding resources, are still under discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. I expect this process to be concluded very shortly and intend that the details should be announced thereafter.

Medication

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions were issued for benzodiazepines in each of the last 10 years and what the total cost was to the NHS in each year, broken down by all available drugs.

Shona Robison: The following tables show the number of prescribed items and gross ingredient cost for benzodiazepines for the financial years ending 31 March 1998 to 2007. The data given refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but do not include medicines dispensed by hospitals or hospital-based clinics. The cost given is that before addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any discount and patient charges.

  Number of Prescribed Items

  

 Year ended 31 March
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Buspirone Hydrochloride
 18,422
 19,020
 17,599
 18,303
 19,802


 Chlordiazepoxide
 103,677
 100,113
 95,274
 90,629
 88,286


 Diazepam
 647,193
 670,641
 680,770
 704,114
 737,429


 Loprazolam
 48,845
 46,923
 46,711
 46,469
 44,038


 Lorazepam
 72,213
 69,326
 65,162
 62,855
 63,824


 Lormetazepam
 58,850
 60,709
 59,918
 51,790
 52,053


 Nitrazepam
 288,512
 273,927
 258,282
 245,181
 231,777


 Oxazepam
 29,890
 29,303
 27,522
 25,105
 24,312


 Temazepam
 584,122
 548,001
 517,397
 481,836
 455,416


 Total
 1,851,724
 1,817,963
 1,768,635
 1,726,282
 1,716,937



  Number of Prescribed Items (Continued)

  

 Year ended 31 March
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Buspirone Hydrochloride
 20,756
 21,751
 22,014
 22,372
 22,190


 Chlordiazepoxide
 84,801
 81,359
 78,180
 73,999
 71,332


 Diazepam
 757,251
 779,249
 791,309
 812,299
 833,933


 Loprazolam
 41,036
 37,069
 33,112
 28,357
 26,098


 Lorazepam
 65,215
 66,415
 69,450
 73,681
 77,699


 Lormetazepam
 51,682
 49,170
 49,367
 47,935
 47,605


 Nitrazepam
 219,797
 207,423
 195,170
 185,171
 177,457


 Oxazepam
 23,081
 22,105
 20,846
 19,931
 19,660


 Temazepam
 433,130
 412,417
 392,512
 376,364
 367,177


 Total
 1,696,749
 1,676,958
 1,651,960
 1,640,109
 1,643,151



  Gross Ingredient Cost (£)

  

 Year ended 31 March
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Buspirone Hydrochloride
 399,199
 423,441
 397,898
 413,498
 455,239


 Chlordiazepoxide
 78,258
 86,533
 248,744
 237,337
 230,444


 Diazepam
 252,930
 279,044
 695,635
 1,078,186
 958,853


 Loprazolam
 197,907
 268,918
 295,028
 265,550
 251,574


 Lorazepam
 50,805
 47,940
 54,968
 112,112
 148,732


 Lormetazepam
 81,841
 83,106
 86,334
 142,617
 228,585


 Nitrazepam
 135,235
 140,102
 455,560
 461,028
 351,268


 Oxazepam
 20,510
 19,761
 22,290
 44,092
 55,067


 Temazepam
 1,022,121
 965,009
 927,608
 851,460
 753,603


 Total
 2,238,806
 2,313,854
 3,184,064
 3,605,882
 3,433,366



  Gross Ingredient Cost (£) (Continued)

  

 Year Ended 31 March
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Buspirone Hydrochloride
 467,600
 477,113
 489,970
 717,699
 1,069,020


 Chlordiazepoxide
 221,551
 213,026
 203,841
 222,808
 296,581


 Diazepam
 925,724
 840,695
 844,871
 1,186,337
 2,257,269


 Loprazolam
 236,572
 218,511
 195,069
 171,601
 177,123


 Lorazepam
 160,688
 161,166
 160,721
 272,148
 755,113


 Lormetazepam
 248,779
 239,456
 238,833
 390,429
 1,525,134


 Nitrazepam
 308,668
 261,635
 244,572
 265,528
 417,157


 Oxazepam
 53,761
 51,236
 47,257
 60,438
 131,244


 Temazepam
 693,590
 657,513
 605,415
 562,558
 564,022


 Total
 3,316,933
 3,120,350
 3,030,550
 3,849,546
 7,192,663



  The information in the tables has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Medication

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions were issued for Prozac in each of the last 10 years and what the total cost was to the NHS in each year.

Shona Robison: The following table shows the number of prescribed items and gross ingredient cost for fluoxetine (Prozac) for the financial years ending 31 March 1998 to 2007. The data given refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but do not include medicines dispensed by hospitals or hospital-based clinics. The cost given is that before addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any discount and patient charges.

  

 Year Ended 31 March
 No of Prescribed Items
 Gross Ingredient Cost £


 1998
 361,227
 9,586,678


 1999
 398,562
 10,729,594


 2000
 429,642
 11,335,969


 2001
 462,177
 6,145,791


 2002
 499,412
 4,626,659


 2003
 521,216
 4,538,107


 2004
 545,026
 3,661,045


 2005
 555,940
 2,304,228


 2006
 596,007
 2,350,272


 2007
 636,435
 3,166,666



  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Medication

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether drug companies are required to provide all drug research information, published and unpublished, to the Scottish Medicines Consortium prior to obtaining a licence to have the drug distributed.

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether drug companies have provided drug research to the Scottish Medicines Consortium at the time of licensing and, if not, how this affects the licensing process.

Shona Robison: The licensing of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The Scottish Medicines Consortium considers products after licensing. The information required from manufacturers is available from the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s website http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/smc/CCC_FirstPage.jsp .

Medication

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions have been issued for opiates, such as OxyContin and Percocet, since the drugs were made available through the NHS and what the total cost has been to the NHS each year, broken down by drug.

Shona Robison: The following tables show the number of prescribed items and gross ingredient cost for opiates for the financial years ending 31 March 1993 to 2007. The data given refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but do not include medicines dispensed by hospitals or hospital-based clinics. The cost given is that before addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any discount and patient charges.

  Number of Prescribed Items

  

Year Ended 31 March
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000


Buprenorphine
8,218
28,817
19,906
14,717
11,979
9,974
8,438
7,359


Codeine Phosphate
11,034
46,735
48,662
50,513
53,809
55,611
57,395
57,310


Dextromoramide
1,549
6,797
6,518
5,864
4,984
5,054
4,624
3,936


Dextropropoxyphene Hydrochloride
225
871
629
598
620
531
500
480


Diamorphine Hydrochloride
2,458
10,043
11,414
10,705
10,746
11,510
11,541
11,338


Dihydrocodeine Tartrate
80,089
346,669
358,454
352,186
370,623
393,817
417,445
432,116


Dipipanone with Cyclizine
2,941
11,722
11,549
10,695
10,174
8,831
8,145
7,335


Fentanyl
0
0
269
3,562
6,899
8,677
10,157
11,467


Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
0
0
0
0
0
813
2,604
3,961


Meptazinol
2,920
13,305
14,945
15,613
16,666
17,970
18,252
17,695


Methadone Hydrochloride
1,599
6,523
6,578
6,182
5,541
3,696
2,725
2,231


Morphine
16,170
68,860
78,627
85,589
88,853
96,408
104,556
107,455


Morphine and cocaine with
chlorrpromazine
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0


Morphine with cocaine
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
0


Morphine with cyclizine
1,175
4,695
4,914
4,534
3,899
3,870
4,106
3,760


Nalbuphine Hydrochloride
0
66
77
84
101
140
181
167


Opium
8
50
46
14
0
0
0
0


Oxycodone
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
119


Paracetamol with Tramadol Hydrochloride
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Papaverine Hydrochloride
32
97
68
0
0
0
0
0


Pentazocine
1,983
7,638
6,678
5,625
5,049
4,259
3,857
3,420


Pethidine Hydrochloride
3,869
16,100
17,086
17,287
16,410
16,533
16,682
15,673


Pethidine with Promethazine
4
12
8
4
3
2
1
3


Phenazocine Hydrobromide
112
514
554
523
551
677
608
501


Phenoperidine Hydrochloride
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0


Tramadol Hydrochloride
0
0
23,469
61,682
101,504
142,330
178,639
217,055


Total
134,386
569,517
610,455
645,979
708,411
780,704
850,341
 904,390



  Number of Prescribed Items (Continued)

  

 Year Ended 31 March
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Buprenorphine
 6,107
 5,473
 7,011
 9,671
 12,020
 15,669
 28,757


 Codeine Phosphate
 57,870
 57,637
 59,030
 60,275
 61,929
 66,427
 68,876


 Dextromoramide
 3,505
 3,386
 3,303
 606
 0
 0
 0


 Dextropropoxyphene Hydrocholride
 1,216
 965
 736
 477
 37
 0
 0


 Diamorphine Hydrochloride
 11,839
 12,707
 13,034
 12,388
 11,731
 6,568
 7,107


 Dihydrocodeine Tartrate
 438,558
 440,167
 437,288
 436,045
 430,985
 432,504
 433,891


 Dipipanone with Cyclizine
 6,983
 6,608
 6,098
 5,913
 5,412
 5,015
 4,885


 Fentanyl
 13,154
 17,237
 22,461
 26,850
 30,780
 38,094
 46,421


 Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
 4,407
 3,022
 2,230
 2,026
 2,122
 2,378
 2,720


 Meptazinol
 16,362
 14,583
 13,196
 12,113
 11,629
 11,329
 10,819


 Methadone Hydrochloride
 1,848
 1,498
 1,609
 1,820
 1,971
 1,771
 2,119


 Morphine
 113,258
 119,753
 127,146
 132,440
 143,330
 162,157
 181,821


 Morphine and cocaine with Chlorpromazine
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Morphine with cocaine
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Morphine with cyclizine
 3,636
 3,367
 3,041
 3,007
 2,697
 2,591
 2,150


 Nalbuphine Hydrochloride
 286
 267
 275
 259
 98
 0
 0


 Opium
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Oxycodone
 5,562
 13,922
 23,206
 33,591
 45,237
 58,452
 74,519


 Paracetamol with Tramadol Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4,512
 16,498
 21,341


 Papaverine Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Pentazocine
 2,720
 2,314
 2,163
 2,001
 1,671
 1,446
 1,231


 Pethidine Hydrochloride
 15,673
 15,076
 14,171
 13,250
 12,257
 10,825
 10,773


 Pethidine with Promethazine
 3
 2
 1
 1
 1
 0
 0


 Phenazocine Hydrobromide
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Phenoperidne Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Tramadol Hydrochloride
 271,859
 333,541
 402,801
 471,035
 533,319
 625,109
 706,223


 Total
 974,846
 1,051,525
 1,138,800
 1,223,768
 1,311,738
 1,456,833
 1,603,653



  Gross Ingredient Cost (£)

  

 Year Ended 31 March
 1993
 1994
 1995
 1996
 1997
 1998
 1999
 2000


 Buprenorphine
 71,578
 269,327
 198,382
 155,999
 132,224
 111,832
 95,702
 84,125


 Codeine Phosphate
 21,329
 88,013
 94,159
 95,136
 100,875
 109,162
 126,957
 304,547


 Dextromoramide
 9,536
 42,038
 38,950
 37,356
 33,572
 35,687
 32,760
 26,305


 Dextropropoxyphene Hydrochloride
 1,329
 6,460
 5,387
 5,590
 5,622
 4,840
 4,796
 4,262


 Diamorphine Hydrochloride
 106,261
 406,431
 477,584
 429,424
 428,610
 376,742
 333,333
 394,066


 Dihydrocodeine Tartrate
 281,691
 1,280,646
 1,381,572
 1,253,929
 1,309,074
 1,478,041
 1,590,516
 2,375,759


 Dipipanone with Cyclizine
 18,938
 78,286
 84,345
 82,050
 80,886
 73,360
 66,994
 64,121


 Fentanyl
 0
 0
 18,950
 300,845
 598,326
 808,991
 1,022,698
 1,098,924


 Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 34,354
 103,814
 154,301


 Meptazinol
 52,950
 235,846
 256,290
 272,645
 293,212
 322,896
 334,506
 343,313


 Methadone Hydrochloride
 24,463
 85,622
 71,626
 78,158
 71,185
 51,727
 33,119
 24,023


 Morphine
 311,946
 1,372,177
 1,565,245
 1,716,888
 1,716,855
 1,850,828
 1,998,005
 1,987,443


 Morphine and cocaine with Chlorpromazine
 0
 1
 3
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Morphine with cocaine
 0
 6
 6
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Morphine with cyclizine
 10,227
 41,431
 45,593
 47,051
 41,371
 47,957
 40,449
 38,695


 Nalbuphine Hydrocholride
 0
 83,722
 16,790
 3,116
 3,612
 4,523
 5,256
 3,590


 Opium
 8
 40
 36
 14
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Oxycodone
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 4,385


 Paracetamol with Tramadol Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Papaverine Hydrochloride
 336
 1,403
 807
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Pentazocine
 20,697
 88,391
 84,588
 68,690
 62,029
 56,447
 55,670
 51,254


 Pethidine Hydrochloride
 3,235
 13,744
 15,783
 46,063
 60,999
 71,137
 73,253
 87,516


 Pethidine with Promethazine
 22
 51
 49
 22
 17
 17
 7
 11


 Phenazocine Hydrobromide
 2,545
 13,192
 14,800
 15,834
 16,593
 20,252
 18,672
 12,588


 Phenoperidine Hydrochloride
 0
 2
 2
 0
 0
 5
 0
 0


 Tramadol Hydrochloride
 937,093
 4,106,829
 4,370,947
 4,608,811
 4,955,063
 5,458,799
 5,936,507
 7,062,976


 Total
 1,874,187
 8,213,658
 8,741,893
 9,217,622
 9,910,125
 10,917,598
 11,873,015
 14,125,953



  Gross Ingredient Cost (£) (Continued)

  

 Year ended 31 March
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007


 Buprenorphine
 70,486
 64,729
 172,639
 355,844
 522,518
 707,918
 1,344,903


 Codeine Phosphate
 322,690
 280,466
 287,418
 294,912
 298,692
 371,879
 492,260


 Dextromoramide
 22,503
 23,851
 24,198
 3,846
 0
 0
 0


 Dextropropoxyphene Hydrochlodide
 11,661
 9,555
 6,839
 4,209
 334
 0
 0


 Diamorphine Hydrochloride
 371,684
 414,378
 360,239
 291,943
 238,779
 136,279
 234,933


 Dihydrocodeine Tartrate
 2,362,362
 2,203,650
 2,304,317
 2,345,958
 2,355,434
 2,441,864
 2,776,922


 Dipipanone with Cyclizine
 59,793
 57,804
 55,417
 55,209
 52,669
 59,795
 62,713


 Fentanyl
 1,239.088
 1,731,628
 2,205,524
 2,640,152
 3,056,123
 3,606,716
 4,201,648


 Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
 169,125
 130,419
 90,003
 99,262
 105,295
 118,336
 132,387


 Meptazinol
 328,338
 280,750
 249,237
 233,037
 230,595
 228,063
 223,602


 Methadone Hydrochloride
 23,526
 18,206
 21,760
 21,634
 24,125
 22,606
 26,640


 Morphine
 2,050,265
 2,185,490
 2,054,670
 2,115,789
 2,204,656
 2,263,405
 2,429,128


 Morphine and cocaine with Chlorpromazine
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Morphine with cocaine
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Morphine with cyclizine
 38,316
 35,822
 34,982
 31,168
 29,474
 31,029
 29,090


 Nalbuphine Hydrochloride
 5,272
 4,724
 5,158
 4,867
 2,218
 0
 0


 Opium
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Oxycodone
 233,029
 667,080
 1,195,886
 1,876,110
 2,557,979
 3,180,230
 3,999,635


 Paracetamol with Tramadol Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 64,874
 261,684
 363,871


 Papaverine Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Pentazocine
 37,858
 34,368
 33,029
 33,141
 26,986
 20,927
 15,231


 Pethidine Hydrochloride
 74,880
 74,672
 72,681
 70,414
 67,613
 59,503
 60,810


 Pethidine with Promethazine
 20
 8
 7
 1
 7
 0
 0


 Phenazocine Hydrobromide
 12,588
 369
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Phenoperidine Hydrochloride
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Tramadol Hydrochloride
 7,433,484
 8,217,968
 9,174,006
 10,477,496
 11,838,371
 13,510,233
 16,393,774


 Total
 14,866,968
 16,435,937
 18,348,012
 20,954,992
 23,676,741
 27,020,467
 32,787,549



  The information in the table has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland.

Medication

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for antidepressants have been issued through the NHS since these drugs were made available and what the total cost has been to the NHS each year, broken down by drug.

Shona Robison: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested. Information on antidepressant drugs prescribing by NHS Scotland is published by NHS National Services Scotland on the Scottish Health Statistics website at www.isdscotland.org/prescribing .

  Details of the prescribing of antidepressants since the financial year ending 31 March 1993 can be found at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/information-and-statistics.jsp?pContentID=3671&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

  The data given in table 8 of these details refer to prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but do not include medicines dispensed in hospitals or hospital-based clinics. The cost given is that before addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any discount and patient charges.

NHS Waiting Times

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many delayed discharges there have been in (a) Grampian and (b) Tayside since 2005.

Shona Robison: The requested information is shown in the following table:

  Patients Ready for Discharge

  

 
 Scotland
 NHS Board Area of Treatment


 Grampian
 Tayside


 No. Outwith 6 Weeks1
 Total2
 No. Outwith 6 Weeks
 Total
 No. Outwith 6 Weeks
 Total


 January 2005
 959
 1,668
 151
 248
 49
 108


 April 2005
 636
 1,332
 105
 194
 37
 99


 July 2005
 753
 1,465
 99
 217
 56
 117


 October 2005
 875
 1,576
 128
 211
 49
 113


 January 2006
 778
 1,488
 146
 239
 56
 123


 April 2006
 498
 1,046
 84
 156
 25
 77


 July 2006
 627
 1,243
 84
 129
 52
 111


 October 2006
 679
 1,327
 88
 156
 61
 133


 January 2007
 606
 1,182
 95
 155
 50
 96


 April 2007
 233
 755
 34
 102
 9
 48


 July 2007
 423
 1,031
 43
 109
 42
 101


 October 2007
 425
 1,008
 48
 116
 49
 125


 January 2008
 316
 824
 63
 107
 17
 67



  Source: ISD Scotland, Ref: IRS2008-00691.

  Notes:

  1. Number of patients ready for discharge with a duration of over six weeks (43 days or more), i.e. the common period for discharge planning agreement timescales across Scotland.

  2. Total number of Delayed Discharges, in all specialties.

Non-Profit Distributing Model

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects in Scotland have been developed using the non-profit distributing model.

John Swinney: There have been three projects in Scotland completed using the non-profit distributing (NPD) model. These projects are in the schools sector and are now in construction. There are also a further four projects at various stages of procurement currently using the NPD model, or a variation. Three of these are in the schools sector with the other one being in health. We have recently announced that the Borders rail project will be procured using the NPD model. In addition, major rail public transport infrastructure is delivered through Network Rail Regulatory Asset base, which follows NPD principles.

Planning

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many renewable energy development planning applications have been called in by Scottish ministers in each year since 1999, broken down by type of development.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is provided in the following table:

  

 Year
 Applications Called In
 Type of development


 1999
 0
 -


 2000
 0
 -


 2001
 1
 Wind power


 2002
 1
 Wind power


 2003
 0
 -


 2004
 2
 Wind power


 2005
 0
 -


 2006
 2
 Wind power


 2007
 2
 Wind power


 2008
 1
 Wind power

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the construction costs of the Borders rail project will be funded through the Scottish Futures Trust or the proposed new non-profit distributing model.

Stewart Stevenson: Exact details of what proportion of the construction costs of the Borders rail project will be funded through the proposed non-profit distributing model will be the subject of negotiations with the successful tender but is expected to be between the range of £235 million and £295 million as answered in my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what formal contact with Partnerships UK has taken place regarding the funding of the Borders rail project and when this contact was.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland, (b) Partnerships UK and (c) the Waverley Railway Partnership regarding the funding of the Borders rail project through the non-profit distributing model.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has been in regular discussions with Partnerships UK (PUK) over funding of a number of our road and rail projects (including Borders), as recently as the day of my announcement. Transport Scotland are being advised by Ernst and Young on the Borders rail project and PUK are being engaged in the next phase of the pre-procurement development as per my announcement to Parliament last week.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the non-profit distributing model to fund the Borders rail project will be established.

Stewart Stevenson: The non-profit distributing model to fund the Borders rail project will be established on award of tender.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will underwrite the construction costs of the Borders rail project.

Stewart Stevenson: Construction costs are borne by the non-profit distributing (NPD) company which in turn receive Unitary Charge payments over the lifetime of the contract.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the construction costs of the Borders rail project will be required to be met before the construction of the line commences.

Stewart Stevenson: The terms and conditions of the Borders rail project will be required to be met by the successful tenderer before the construction of the line commences.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the design stage of the Borders rail project to be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: The current target date for the outline specimen design stage of the Borders rail project to be completed is mid-October 2008. Final design will be the responsibility of the winning contractor/concessionary vehicle.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the construction of the Borders rail project to be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: As announced in my statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008, the target date for the construction of the Borders rail project to be completed is anticipated to be 2013.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target date is for the opening of the Borders rail line.

Stewart Stevenson: The target date for the opening of the Borders rail line will be immediately after the construction is completed and the testing and commissioning has taken place, which is currently scheduled for 2013.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the funding of the Borders rail project, it has any concerns that the financial market will be cautious about investing in an unproven delivery model.

Stewart Stevenson: In the current testing financial times, investors will move to high-quality investments. Financial markets are already expressing considerable interest in providing funding via this excellent investment opportunity.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how, in relation to the funding of the Borders rail project, it will attract investment into the non-profit distributing model.

Stewart Stevenson: Established markets exist for both senior and junior debt. The procurement process will allow for thorough dialogue with lenders.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive over what proportion of the asset life of the Borders rail project the project capital will be repaid by annual service charges.

Stewart Stevenson: We would expect repayment of debt to take place over 25 to 30 years

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why it considers that the non-profit distributing model is better suited to the Borders rail project than the Edinburgh tram scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: The use of the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) or non-profit distribution (NPD) funding models offer maximum value for money and flexibility for projects of this nature. The procurement route chosen for the Edinburgh tram project is a matter for Edinburgh City Council.

Rail Network

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the first statutory package consisting of physical works and land and statutory powers authorised under the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 will commence.

Stewart Stevenson: The first statutory package will commence at the start of the construction phase of the project, currently expected to be 2011.

Road Accidents

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will collate statistics on road accidents involving (a) ambulance and (b) fire and rescue service vehicles, broken down by the number of (i) deaths and (ii) serious injuries resulting from such accidents.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has no immediate plans to collate statistics which specifically identify road accidents involving ambulance and fire rescue vehicles. However, the impending GB-wide review of road accident statistics will include a public consultation, and all responses will be considered.

  Statistics on the number of accidents involving fire service and ambulance vehicles are available separately from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Roads

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was spent on roadworks in Grampian during (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06, (e) 2006-07 and (f) 2007-08.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table provides net revenue expenditure on local road maintenance in the Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Council areas as requested to the year 2006-07 and trunk road spend to date by the north east unit of Transport Scotland, which includes the former Grampian Regional Council area.

  Net Revenue Expenditure on Road Maintenance1,2 (£000)

  

 
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Aberdeen Citya
 6,819
 8,089
 7,927
 8,630
 7,278
 N/A


 Aberdeenshirea
 18,476
 19,880
 18,451
 18,296
 15,106
 N/A


 Moraya
 6,158
 6,496
 7,912
 7,184
 6,641
 N/A


 North East Unit, Transport Scotlandb
 22,698
 17,052
 30,824
 28,699
 30,051
 20,555



  Source:

  a. Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics publications.

  b. Transport Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Net expenditure financed from grants, non domestic rates, council taxes and balances.

  2. Includes expenditure on winter maintenance and structural, environmental and safety maintenance and routine repairs.

Roads

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £16 million of improvement schemes identified in the A82 Tarbet to Fort William Route Action Plan of February 2006, namely Pulpit Rock, the Crianlarich bypass and the online improvements at Inveruglas and south of Inverarnan, are still on schedule to be constructed by 2012.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is progressing with the improvement work at Pulpit Rock and a bypass of Crianlarich which subject to the completion of statutory procedures, remain on course to be delivered within the current programme to 2012.

  Feasibility studies for schemes at Inveruglas and south of Inverarnan are currently being investigated. Depending on the outcome of this preliminary work, and value for money being demonstrated, we are aiming to take the development of the schemes forward to preliminary assessment and detailed design, publication of statutory procedures and completion of the design within a four-year timescale. Construction thereafter will depend on the availability of finance at the time.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planned to take forward the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as a PPP to allow the costs to be spread over the longer term and, if not, what funding option is currently favoured.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-656 on 20 September 2007. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Official Reports in the Parliament’s website http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0920-02.htm#Col1963 .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of detailed design and value engineering work on the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route; what reductions in cost were secured through this work, and whether any of this work will provide any benefit following the decision not to proceed with the Murtle option.

Stewart Stevenson: Prior to the announcement in December 2005 of the adoption of the Milltimber Brae and Fastlink, £12.2 million was spent on the design of the Murtle Route. £6.4 million of the £12.2 million spent related to sections of the Murtle route common to the current proposals.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, any calculations were made of the economic, social and transport advantages and disadvantages of options closer to Aberdeen city centre compared with the Milltimber option and whether it will list any such calculations, broken down by option.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the economic, social and transport advantages and disadvantages on all considered options can be found in the STAG assessments which have been published on the project website. ( www.awpr.co.uk ).

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the additional cost of proceeding with the Milltimber option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route compared with the Murtle option favoured by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2518 on 23 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce a national screening programme for chlamydia.

Shona Robison: No. Chlamydia testing in Scotland takes place on an opportunistic basis by GPs and other health care professionals, which is in line with the SIGN guidelines.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many diagnoses of chlamydia were reported to Health Protection Scotland in the third quarter of 2007-08.

Shona Robison: Health Protection Scotland received 4,381 laboratory reports of genital chlamydia for the 3rd quarter of 2007-08, i.e. for the period October to December 2007.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to NHS Quality Improvement Scotland regarding improved recording of repeat testing of individuals for chlamydia in order to improve the accuracy of statistics.

Shona Robison: Respect and Responsibility , Scotland’s national Sexual Health Strategy, allocates actions to NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and to NHS National Services Scotland’s Information Services Division to set sexual health standards and to improve data collection of sexually transmitted infections.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to NHS boards regarding improved recording of repeat testing of individuals for chlamydia in order to improve the accuracy of statistics.

Shona Robison: Health Protection Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government and in association with chlamydia testing laboratories, is exploring ways to develop existing monitoring systems so that a greater understanding of repeat testing among individuals can be achieved.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to collect data by NHS board for chlamydia screening in 2008 and how regularly such data is expected to be collected in future years.

Shona Robison: Data on chlamydia testing in NHS board areas is collected by Health Protection Scotland to answer the first population key clinical indicators. These were developed as part of the implementation of the sexual health strategy, Respect and Responsibility , the baseline report on the 2005 data was published in February 2006 and the 2006 data has just been published (February 2007). This has become an annual exercise and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the success of the Ayrshire and Arran pilot of chlamydia screening through pharmacies.

Shona Robison: There has as yet been no formal assessment of the chlamydia testing feasibility study in Ayrshire and Arran. This is due to the small number of community pharmacies and patients which took part.

  NHS Ayrshire and Arran are now planning to increase the number of community pharmacies offering this service and to promote the service with local authority and other health care professionals.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the chlamydia screening targets set out in NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s draft standards are sufficient to meet the aims of its sexual health and relationships strategy on preventing sexually transmitted infections.

Shona Robison: The targets for chlamydia testing set out in the draft NHS Quality Improvement Standards have been informed by sexual health key clinical indicators and represent best practice in Scotland.

  The standards represent the minimum level of chlamydia testing which each NHS board will be expected to achieve. We hope NHS boards will exceed these minimum levels as services develop.

Sexual Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what barriers exist to increasing chlamydia screening among men to at least the levels of screening among women and what action could be taken to overcome such barriers.

Shona Robison: Generally, men do not access health services as often as women. The reasons for this may be embarrassment, a lack of awareness of the services which are available or not recognising when they may be at risk.

  It is our aim to increase chlamydia testing in men. This can be achieved through a variety of interventions such as better partner notification, young people friendly services including "drop-in" services and testing initiatives targeted at men, provided in venues they regularly attend.

Vaccinations

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in light of the judgement by the US Attorney General on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services which found that combined multiple vaccinations received by a child significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder predisposing her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of autism.

Shona Robison: The details of the judgement in this case are sealed and much of what is being publicly suggested is speculation. What is known is that the child in question has an extremely rare genetic metabolic condition and as part of her neurological signs and symptoms, she has autistic-like features. There is a wealth of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism and the circumstances of this case do not change that conclusion.

Vaccinations

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to screen out all children with mitochondrial dysfunction from the vaccination programme.

Shona Robison: The details of the judgement in this case are sealed and much of what is being publicly suggested is speculation. What is known is that the child in question has an extremely rare genetic metabolic condition and as part of her neurological signs and symptoms, she has autistic-like features. At the same time there is a wealth of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism. Therefore there are no plans to take any steps to screen out all children with mitochondrial dysfunction from the routine childhood vaccination programme.

Vaccinations

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to introduce single vaccines in place of combined vaccines as a choice to parents.

Shona Robison: The childhood immunisation programme in Scotland does not offer single vaccines routinely and there are no plans to change this policy. Offering single vaccines, with time lags of a month or more between the three, would leave a child at risk from mumps, measles or rubella. This also has an impact upon herd immunity (where vaccination of a proportion of the population provides protection to unvaccinated individuals) and may mean those children that cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons would be at increased risk of the disease.

  The combined MMR vaccine has been in use for a period of nearly 30 years, with over 500 million doses given in over 100 countries. Based on the findings from the on-going monitoring of its safety, and the evidence from the wide range of scientific investigations into the speculated risks to health, the vaccine has an excellent safety record.

Vaccinations

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake research to discover whether combined multiple vaccines can aggravate underlying medical conditions leading to features of autistic spectrum disorder.

Shona Robison: There is a wealth of scientific evidence that vaccines do not cause autism and as such there are no plans to undertake any further research in this area. The Scottish Government and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have however taken forward a jointly funded research programme in relation to autism, based on the agenda outlined in the MRC Review of Autism Research. The MRC has now committed over £3 million to new research. The awards range from clinical investigations in children and adults, to environmental risk factors, brain imaging and intervention studies. The Chief Scientist Office has also funded a number of studies into autism.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Information Technology

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many IT incidents have been recorded where parliamentary account users have been unable to log on remotely from home or constituency offices due to problems associated with lack of capacity on parliamentary servers.

Alex Johnstone: IT incidents have been categorised since December 2005. The table below shows the number of IT incidents logged with the Helpdesk per month where the user has been unable to connect to the Parliament remotely due to capacity issues.

  

 
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 January
 
 8
 3
 7


 February
 
 17
 5
 35


 March
 
 29
 20
 102


 April
 
 1
 0
 


 May
 
 0
 0
 


 June
 
 48
 1
 


 July
 
 2
 0
 


 August
 
 10
 1
 


 September
 
 2
 0
 


 October
 
 6
 7
 


 November
 
 1
 4
 


 December
 4
 0
 6